Tuesday, September 6, 2011

Comfort Hoards Its Hope (Poem)

Comfort Hoards Its Hope

Winter white, pearl, iced blue, cotton crape:
which color of a tear drop held
against the light foretells what
we, alone, imagine?
In time our comfort
hoards its hope, grieves
our promise
to pray
faith.

© 2011 Maureen E. Doallas

My audio recording of the poem:

 Audio Recording of Comfort Hoards Its Hope ~ A Nonet by mdoallas 
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This poem, inspired by the colors in a mood board by photographer Kelly Sauer, takes the form of a nonet, a poetic form that was the subject of a post at One Stop Poetry. The form requires nine lines on any subject, rhyming optional; the first line has nine syllables, the second has eight, and so on until the final  line, which comprises a single syllable. 

My thanks to Kelly for the inspiration and to Corbie Sinclair for the explanation of the form.

32 comments:

Dave King said...

The form is new to me. Writing to a form can make the result seem forced and false. This hasn't happened here - if, indeed, that is what you did. The poem moved me very much.

Anonymous said...

This is lovely.

Kelly Sauer said...

Oh this really is lovely, a bit wistful, but gentle, sweet. I like it very much!

Annie Boreson said...

"In time our comfort hoards its hope." Lovely.

Anonymous said...

oooh
how cunningly smooth

and
nonet to me
is new

Claudia said...

oh i much like the image of color of a tear drop held
against the light...beautiful and gentle write

Anonymous said...

smooth as silk on the tongue...beautiful

Brian Miller said...

mmm...smoothly done maureen...have seen the form before and you do very well by it...

Jannie Funster said...

Yes, there are worlds we cannot imagine in a single tear drop.

Loved the winter images and colors.

Beautiful.

mrs mediocrity said...

love those words, in time our comfort hoards its hope...hope has been an ongoing theme in my writing, this is beautiful.

robkistner said...

Very nicely done Maureen...

Unknown said...

flowed very smoothly... a peaceful and comfy poem. great

hedgewitch said...

Difficult to do this much, this subtly with only nine lines, rigidly formatted--here invisibly formatted, and flowing without inhibition. Which color, indeed, can tell what we imagine.

S. Etole said...

Your voice adds comfort to your words.

Jenne' R. Andrews said...

Exquisitely and ardently crafted, showing your linguistic genius and heart for the beauty even in apprehending not-white things-- love too the title- xxxj

Daydreamertoo said...

Beautiful.

Anonymous said...

This nonet must be difficult to pull off as nicely as you have done hear..... very good job! I'm going to try this......

Laurie Kolp said...

Stunning, Maureen!

Unknown said...

Very well written. Have always liked the form. You definitely did it justice. Really enjoyed the piece, thanks

ayala said...

This is beautiful, Maureen.

Ann LeFlore said...

this flow so smoothly and such a lovely write. Love your blog and thank you for sharing
http://gatelesspassage.com/2011/08/29/unsuspecting-creatures-of-the-night/

Anna @ waysidewordgarden said...

This is beautiful, and your words fit the form seamlessly.

Ruth said...

Tight, exquisite beauty, Maureen.

Patricia said...

I enjoyed hearing your read...

the color of a tear drop is such a beautiful, gentle thought. This made me feel aware and thankful in my grieving state that I am quietly surprised by 'hoarded' comfort slowly warming me with hope from the blanket of faith foundations.

Joseph Hesch said...

I'm always in awe of poets who can write such expressive work while working within the constraints (though they really aren't) of a certain form. I loved everything about this nonet, Maureen--image, pace, diction. Just wonderful.

Anonymous said...

Love the poem's diminishing form - it works really well here. // Peter.

Geoff M. Pope said...

Enjoyed this vivid, skillful nonet, especially the second half with r and p consonance before the a assonance.

Along with Patricia, I liked hearing you read, and look forward to absorbing more of your resonant writing.

signed...bkm said...

Our comfort hoarding hope...what a thought - but so true...we hold on to it cradle it --very nice..thank you Maureen always enjoy your work..bkm

Glynn said...

Beautiful. Sigh.

Steve King said...

You sound and read so 'natural' in this form. The verses are so understated and true, and with a perfect, quiet finality in the last word. Very nice.

Anonymous said...

great express of word done with such a light touch

Julie Farrar said...

I'm so intrigued by the variations of white in the first line. I'm not a poet, but I do always enjoy finding such creativity within such constraints.